CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Vertex
Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today reported
consolidated financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2011
and provided an update on the launch of INCIVEKTM (telaprevir)
tablets and its development programs evaluating potential new medicines.

The company reported total revenues of approximately $659 million,
including approximately $420 million in net product revenues for INCIVEK
in the third quarter. Vertex recorded net income of approximately $221
million, or $1.02 per diluted share, on a GAAP basis and approximately
$151 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, on a non-GAAP basis for the
quarter. Vertex ended the quarter with a cash position of approximately
$659 million.

Vertex also today provided an update on ongoing and planned clinical
trials for its broad pipeline of potential new treatments for hepatitis
C, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy and influenza. In
addition to INCIVEK, Vertex has seven other potential medicines in
clinical development.

"Our continued progress with the launch of INCIVEK together with our
global approval applications for KALYDECO highlight Vertex's strengths
in moving innovative science from the lab to people with serious
diseases," said Matthew Emmens, Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Vertex. "As we enter 2012, we expect to have more than a
dozen ongoing clinical trials across our broad and diverse pipeline,
which we believe may lead to additional new medicines to support our
future growth."

"More than 17,000 people with hepatitis C have started treatment with
INCIVEK since its approval in May, underscoring the strength of the
launch," said Nancy Wysenski, RN, Executive Vice President and Chief
Commercial Officer. "We are focused on further broadening the number of
doctors using INCIVEK and are continuing to work with the hepatitis C
community to increase awareness and screening and to help ensure
patients are able to get the support they need."

Recent Progress and Upcoming Milestones

Hepatitis C

INCIVEK Now Available in Multiple Countries

In the third quarter, Vertex announced the availability of INCIVEK for
people in Canada who have chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C. INCIVEK is
the first medicine marketed in Canada by Vertex.

Vertex's collaborator, Janssen, announced in September that the
European Commission approved telaprevir in Europe, where it is being
marketed by Janssen as INCIVO®. INCIVO is now available in
the U.K., Germany, France and Sweden. Also in the third quarter,
Vertex's collaborator Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma announced the approval
of telaprevir in Japan, where it will be marketed by Mitsubishi as
TELAVIC®.

Phase 3b Study of INCIVEK Dosed Twice Daily

Vertex is currently conducting a Phase 3b clinical trial to evaluate
twice-daily dosing of INCIVEK (1,125 mg; BID) compared to
three-times-daily dosing of INCIVEK (750 mg; q8h) in combination with
Pegasys® (pegylated-interferon alfa-2a) and Copegus®
(ribavirin) for people with chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C. Sustained
viral response (SVR, or viral cure) data from OPTIMIZE are expected as
early as the second half of 2012, which could support the submission
of a supplemental New Drug Application (NDA) for twice-daily dosing of
INCIVEK by the end of 2012.

Earlier this week, Vertex announced the start of a Phase 3b trial to
evaluate the potential for treatment with INCIVEK™ combination therapy
to be shortened to 12 weeks in people with genotype 1 chronic
hepatitis C who have the 'CC' variation near the IL28B gene.
Approximately one-third of people with hepatitis C have the 'CC'
genotype, which has been associated with higher sustained viral
response (SVR, or viral cure) rates and faster response to
interferon-based treatment. The trial is expected to include
approximately 350 people with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C who have
not previously been treated and people who have relapsed after at
least one prior course of treatment with pegylated-interferon and
ribavirin alone.

Vertex completed enrollment in the third quarter in the two, all-oral
three-drug treatment arms of the ongoing Phase 2 ZENITH clinical trial
evaluating response-guided regimens of Vertex's lead investigational
hepatitis C virus polymerase inhibitor, VX-222, dosed in combination
with INCIVEK and ribavirin. The all-oral, three-drug treatment arms
are evaluating a twice-daily, interferon-free regimen of INCIVEK
(1,125 mg), VX-222 (400 mg) and ribavirin in people with genotype 1a
or 1b chronic hepatitis C. Vertex expects to obtain end-of-treatment
data from the all-oral arms of the study in early 2012.

Two four-drug (quad) arms of the study are also fully enrolled and are
evaluating response-guided four-drug combinations of VX-222 (400 mg or
100 mg; BID), INCIVEK (1,125 mg; BID), pegylated-interferon and
ribavirin.

Earlier this year Vertex announced interim data from ZENITH and
expects to provide additional data from the four-drug arms at the
upcoming Liver Meeting in November.

Multiple INCIVEK and VX-222 Presentations at the Liver Meeting in
November

At the 2011 Liver Meeting, being held in San Francisco, November 4-8,
Vertex expects to present clinical data from multiple studies of
INCIVEK and VX-222. New data, including sustained viral response (SVR,
or viral cure) results from the ZENITH study, will be presented for
the first time. Additionally, new data from a Phase 2 study evaluating
INCIVEK combination treatment in people co-infected with genotype 1
chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV), will be presented at the meeting.

Phase 3b HCV-HIV Co-infection Trial to Begin This Year

Based on data from a Phase 2 trial of INCIVEK combination treatment in
people co-infected with HCV and HIV, Vertex plans to initiate a Phase
3b trial of INCIVEK in people co-infected with HCV and HIV by the end
of 2011. The trial is expected to enroll approximately 150 people and
will be designed to provide safety and efficacy data to support
registration of INCIVEK for the treatment of HCV-HIV co-infection as
early as 2013. All patients in this trial will receive INCIVEK
combination treatment. Vertex's collaborator Tibotec also plans to
conduct a similar trial in Europe, which will provide additional
safety and efficacy data in people co-infected with HCV and HIV.
Tibotec expects to begin enrollment in this study in early 2012.

First Phase 2b Study of INCIVEK in People with Hepatitis C
Following a Liver Transplant

By the end of 2011, Vertex expects to initiate the first Phase 2b
clinical study of INCIVEK combination treatment in people who have
recurrent hepatitis C following a liver transplant. The 2-part trial
will evaluate approximately 80 people.

Phase 1 Trials to Begin for ALS-2200 and ALS-2158

Vertex and Alios plan to advance ALS-2200 and ALS-2158 into clinical
development beginning later this year. The first Phase 1 study is
expected to begin by year-end for ALS-2200, followed by a study of
ALS-2158 in early 2012. The studies will evaluate healthy volunteers
followed by people with hepatitis C. The goal of these studies is to
generate safety, pharmacokinetic and viral kinetic data to support the
potential evaluation of either or both compounds in all-oral treatment
regimens for hepatitis C.

Additional information on INCIVEK, including important safety
information, appears at the end of this release.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

U.S. and E.U. Applications for Approval of KALYDECO (VX-770,
ivacaftor) Complete

Last week, Vertex submitted an NDA to the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA)
to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for KALYDECO, Vertex's cystic
fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein (CFTR)
potentiator. Vertex requested Priority Review from the FDA and has
received agreement from the EMA for accelerated assessment of KALYDECO
in Europe.

Phase 2 Combination Trial of KALYDECO and VX-809 Enrolling
Patients in Part 2

Vertex today announced the start of the second part of a Phase 2
clinical trial to evaluate combination regimens of KALYDECO and
VX-809, a CFTR corrector, in people with the most common mutation in
CF, known as F508del. Part Two of this trial will evaluate dosing of
VX-809 alone for four weeks followed by dosing of KALYDECO and VX-809
in combination for four weeks. The study is expected to evaluate
multiple dose levels of VX-809, including doses higher than those
studied in the first part of the trial. The study is expected to
enroll approximately 100 people with CF who have one copy or two
copies of the F508del mutation. Similar to Part One, the primary goals
of the second part of the trial are to evaluate safety and
tolerability and the effect of the combination of KALYDECO and VX-809
on CFTR function as measured by sweat chloride. Lung function will be
measured as a secondary endpoint. Patient screening for this study is
underway.

KALYDECO and VX-809 Presentations at the North American Cystic
Fibrosis Conference

Nine abstracts were accepted for presentation at the 2011 North
American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC), being held in Anaheim,
CA, November 3-5. Complete 48-week data from the Phase 3 ENVISION
study of KALYDECO in children ages 6 to 11 years will be presented for
the first time, as will data from a subset of patients in the
open-label PERSIST extension study who had completed 48 weeks of
treatment (placebo or KALYDECO) in one of the KALYDECO Phase 3 trials
(STRIVE or ENVISION). Data from the first 12 weeks of the rollover
study in patients who completed the STRIVE study and entered PERSIST
will be presented at the meeting. In addition, complete data from the
first part of the Phase 2 study combining KALYDECO and VX-809 will be
presented for the first time.

Additional Studies of KALYDECO Planned for 2012

Pediatric Study: Vertex remains on track to initiate a Phase 2
study of KALYDECO dosed as monotherapy in children ages 2 through 5 in
2012. This will be the first study to evaluate a pediatric formulation
of KALYDECO in children with the G551D mutation as young as two years
of age.

Other CFTR Mutations: Also in 2012, Vertex plans to begin
evaluation of KALYDECO monotherapy in people with certain other gating
mutations (not G551D) and in mutations that result in some residual
function of the defective CFTR protein on the cell surface. Vertex is
in discussions with global regulatory agencies regarding the design of
these studies and intends to provide additional information upon the
initiation of the first study in these additional mutations.

First Study of VX-661 Planned for First Quarter of 2012

In addition to the ongoing Phase 2 study of KALYDECO and VX-809,
Vertex also plans to begin Phase 2 development of VX-661, another CFTR
corrector, in the first quarter of 2012. VX-661 is expected to be
evaluated as monotherapy followed by dosing of VX-661 in combination
with KALYDECO in people with two copies of the F508del mutation.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

350-patient Phase 2b Study of VX-509 To Begin by Early 2012 for
Rheumatoid Arthritis

In September, Vertex announced data from a Phase 2 proof-of-concept
clinical trial of the oral JAK3 inhibitor VX-509 in people with
moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Based on these data,
Vertex plans to begin a six-month Phase 2b study of VX-509 in RA by
early 2012. This study will evaluate once-daily (QD) and twice-daily
(BID) doses of VX-509 in combination with methotrexate, a commonly
prescribed disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for RA that is
frequently used in combination with other RA medicines. The study is
expected to enroll approximately 350 people with moderate to severe RA.

Epilepsy

400-patient Phase 2b Study of VX-765 To Begin by Year-end for
Epilepsy

Earlier this year, Vertex announced results from a Phase 2 study of
VX-765 in people with treatment-resistant epilepsy. Based on these
results, Vertex plans to initiate an additional Phase 2 study to
evaluate longer dosing of VX-765 in approximately 400 people with
treatment-resistant epilepsy. The trial is expected to begin by the
end of this year.

Influenza:

Phase 1 Development Underway for VX-787

In September, Vertex began clinical development of VX-787 in a Phase 1
study in healthy volunteers. VX-787 is an investigational medicine
that is designed to treat influenza A, including recent H1 (pandemic)
and H5 (avian) influenza strains. VX-787 is the first of a new class
of molecules that aims to treat influenza in a way that is distinct
from neuraminidase inhibitors, the current standard of care for the
treatment of influenza, and from other previous approaches to the
treatment of influenza.

Phase 1 development in healthy volunteers is ongoing, and Vertex plans
to begin evaluation of VX-787 in influenza infection as part of a
Phase 2a proof-of-concept trial in mid-2012.

Third Quarter Financial Results

"Our financial performance in the third quarter was driven by the
successful launch of INCIVEK, enabling Vertex to be profitable and
cashflow positive in the first full quarter after INCIVEK was
available," said Ian Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer. "We remain committed to reinvesting in our broad pipeline and
to the creation of significant earnings, which we believe will deliver
the greatest value for patients, the company and shareholders."

Total Revenues: Total revenues for the quarter ended
September 30, 2011 were $659.2 million, compared with $23.8 million in
total revenues for the third quarter of 2010. The increase in total
revenues is primarily a result of INCIVEK net revenues of $419.6 million
and $200.0 million in milestone revenues earned from Vertex's
collaborator Janssen in the third quarter.

INCIVEK Revenues: For the quarter ended September 30,
2011, Vertex reported $419.6 million in net revenues of INCIVEK, which
were recorded on an ex-factory basis and reflect the first full quarter
of INCIVEK sales following approval on May 23, 2011. Net revenues of
INCIVEK for the second quarter of 2011 were $74.5 million.

Cost of Product Revenues: Cost of product revenues for the
quarter ended September 30, 2011 was $35.3 million, which principally
reflects royalty expenses owed to third parties on the sale of INCIVEK.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses
for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 were $189.1 million, including
$18.7 million in stock-based compensation expense, compared to $170.4
million, including $17.0 million in stock-based compensation expense,
for the third quarter of 2010. These expenses reflect the company's
continued investment in its research and development pipeline, including
preparation for the initiation of multiple clinical trials planned to
begin by early 2012.

Sales, General and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses:
SG&A expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 were $110.7
million, including $10.8 million in stock-based compensation expense,
compared to $48.9 million, including $6.8 million in stock-based
compensation expense, for the third quarter of 2010. This increase
reflects the expansion of the company's commercial organization to
support both INCIVEK and KALYDECO and costs related to the commercial
launch of INCIVEK.

GAAP and Non-GAAP Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Vertex:
For the quarter ended September 30, 2011, the company's GAAP net income
attributable to Vertex was $221.1 million, or $1.02 per diluted share,
compared to a GAAP net loss attributable to Vertex for the quarter ended
September 30, 2010 of $209.0 million, or $1.04 per diluted share.

The non-GAAP net income attributable to Vertex for the quarter ended
September 30, 2011 was $151.2 million, or $0.70 per diluted share,
compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $174.6 million, or $0.87 per diluted
share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2010. The non-GAAP net income
for the third quarter of 2011 and the third quarter non-GAAP net loss
for the third quarter of 2010 excludes stock-based compensation expense,
restructuring expense (credit), any revenues and expenses related to
certain September 2009 financial transactions, any intangible asset
impairment charge, net of tax, and items related to Vertex's
collaboration with Alios. The increase in the third quarter 2011
non-GAAP net income attributable to Vertex resulted principally from
increased revenues related to the sale of INCIVEK.

Cash Position: At September 30, 2011, Vertex had $658.7
million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, compared to
cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities at June 30, 2011 of
$593.5 million.

This section contains forward-looking guidance about the financial
outlook for Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

Vertex is today reiterating its guidance for 2011 total operating
expenses, excluding cost of revenues, stock-based compensation expense
and intangible asset impairment charge, of $960 to $980 million, as
provided on July 28, 2011.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In this press release, Vertex's financial results and financial guidance
are provided both in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States (GAAP) and using certain non-GAAP
financial measures. In particular, Vertex provides its third quarter
2011 net income and third quarter 2010 net loss excluding stock-based
compensation expense, restructuring expense (credit), any revenues and
expenses related to certain September 2009 financial transactions, any
intangible asset impairment charge, net of tax, and items related to
Vertex's collaboration with Alios. These results are provided as a
complement to results provided in accordance with GAAP because
management believes these non-GAAP financial measures help indicate
underlying trends in the company's business, are important in comparing
current results with prior period results and provide additional
information regarding its financial position. Management also uses these
non-GAAP financial measures to establish budgets and operational goals
that are communicated internally and externally, and to manage the
company's business and to evaluate its performance. A reconciliation of
the other non-GAAP financial results to GAAP financial results is
included in the attached financial statements.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

Third Quarter and Nine Month Results

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

Three Months EndedSeptember 30,

Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,

2011

2010

2011

2010

Revenues:

Product revenues, net

$419,595

$---

$494,130

$---

Royalty revenues

8,539

8,173

24,610

21,842

Collaborative revenues

231,066

15,622

328,546

56,004

Total revenues

659,200

23,795

847,286

77,846

Costs and expenses:

Cost of product revenues

35,285

---

40,689

---

Royalty expenses

3,121

3,228

9,689

9,681

Research and development expenses (R&D)

189,052

170,434

521,268

468,528

Sales, general & administrative expenses (SG&A)

110,654

48,855

278,840

125,322

Restructuring expense (credit)

(419)

866

1,082

3,758

Intangible asset impairment charge (Note 3)

105,800

---

105,800

---

Total costs and expenses

443,493

223,383

957,368

607,289

Income (loss) from operations

215,707

(199,588)

(110,082)

(529,443)

Net interest expense (Note 2)

(6,982)

(3,458)

(24,341)

(10,157)

Change in fair value of derivative instruments (Note 2)

(8,115)

(5,911)

(15,933)

(34,634)

Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes

200,610

(208,957)

(150,356)

(574,234)

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes (Note 3)

(27,842)

---

(3,394)

---

Net income (loss)

228,452

(208,957)

(146,962)

(574,234)

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (Note 1)

7,342

---

(17,907)

---

Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex

$221,110

$(208,957)

$(129,055)

$(574,234)

Net income (loss) per share attributable to Vertex common
shareholders:

Note 1: The company has consolidated the financial statements of
its collaborator Alios BioPharma, Inc., as of June 13, 2011 and for the
period from June 13, 2011 through September 30, 2011. The Company's
interest and obligations with respect to Alios' assets and liabilities
are limited to those accorded to the company in its collaboration
agreement with Alios. Restricted cash and cash equivalents (Alios)
reflects Alios' cash and cash equivalents, which Vertex does not have
any interest in and which will not be used to fund the collaboration.
Increases (decreases) in the fair value of contingent milestone and
royalty payments result in gains (losses) attributable to the
noncontrolling interest (Alios), which decrease (increase) net income
attributable to Vertex on the Condensed Statements of Operations Data.

Note 2: A portion of the collaborative revenues, the change in
fair value of derivative instruments and a portion of the net interest
expense reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations Data, and
the liabilities related to milestone transactions reflected in the
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Data, relate to two financial
transactions that the company entered into in September 2009 relating to
milestone payments under the company's collaboration agreement with
Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V. In the third quarter of 2011, the company
earned $200.0 million in milestone payments from its collaborator,
Janssen, which are reflected in total collaborative revenues in the
Condensed Statements of Operations Data and also in accounts receivable,
net in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Data as of September
30, 2011. $105.0 million of these milestone payments will be used to
redeem $105.0 million in outstanding debt and the remaining $95.0
million will be paid directly to the purchaser of the rights to the
$95.0 million in payments in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Note 3: The intangible assets, the goodwill and the deferred tax
liability reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Data
relate to the company's acquisition of ViroChem Pharma Inc. in 2009 and
the company's collaboration agreement with Alios in 2011. The company
recorded $250.6 million of in-process research and development as an
intangible asset and $7.4 million of goodwill related to the Alios
collaboration in the second quarter of 2011.

In the third quarter of 2011 the company determined that the value of
VX-759, which was a back-up to VX-222, had become impaired and that the
fair value of VX-759 was zero as of September 30, 2011, resulting in a
$105.8 million impairment charge. In connection with this impairment
charge, the company recorded a credit of $32.7 million in its provision
for income taxes resulting in a net effect on its income (loss) related
to this impairment of $73.1 million in the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2011.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Indication

INCIVEK™ (telaprevir) is a prescription medicine used with the medicines
peginterferon alfa and ribavirin to treat chronic (lasting a long time)
hepatitis C genotype 1 infection in adults with stable liver problems,
who have not been treated before or who have failed previous treatment.
It is not known if INCIVEK is safe and effective in children under 18
years of age.

Important Safety Information

INCIVEK should always be taken in combination with peginterferon alfa
and ribavirin. Ribavirin may cause birth defects or death of an unborn
baby. Therefore, a patient should not take INCIVEK combination treatment
if she is pregnant or may become pregnant, or if he is a man with a
sexual partner who is pregnant. Patients must use two forms of effective
birth control during treatment and for the 6 months after treatment with
these medicines.

INCIVEK and other medicines can affect each other and can also cause
side effects that can be serious or life threatening. There are certain
medicines patients cannot take with INCIVEK combination treatment.
Patients should tell their healthcare providers about all the medicines
they take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines,
vitamins and herbal supplements.

INCIVEK can cause serious side effects including rash and anemia. The
most common side effects of INCIVEK include itching, nausea, diarrhea,
vomiting, anal or rectal problems, taste changes and tiredness. There
are other possible side effects of INCIVEK, and side effects associated
with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin also apply to INCIVEK combination
treatment. Patients should tell their healthcare providers about any
side effect that bothers them or doesn't go away.

Please see full Prescribing Information for INCIVEK including the
Medication Guide, available at www.INCIVEK.com.

INCIVEK™ is a trademark of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.

About Vertex

Vertex creates new possibilities in medicine. Our team discovers,
develops and commercializes innovative therapies so people with serious
diseases can lead better lives.

Vertex scientists and our collaborators are working on new medicines to
cure or significantly advance the treatment of hepatitis C, cystic
fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy and other life-threatening
diseases.

Founded more than 20 years ago in Cambridge, MA, we now have ongoing
worldwide research programs and sites in the U.S., U.K. and Canada.
Today, Vertex has more than 1,900 employees around the world, and Science
magazine named Vertex number one on its 2011 list of Top Employers in
the life sciences.

INCIVEKTM is a trademark of Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Incorporated.

PEGASYS® and COPEGUS® are registered trademarks of
Hoffmann-La Roche.

Special Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements
regarding (i) the expectation that as Vertex enters 2012 it will have
more than a dozen ongoing clinical trials across its broad and diverse
pipeline, which it believes may lead to additional new medicines to
support its future growth; (ii) the focus on further broadening the
number of doctors using INCIVEK and continuing to work with the
hepatitis C community to increase awareness and screening and to help
ensure patients are able to get the support they need; (iii) the timing
of the initiation of, the planned clinical trial design of and the
potential timing of availability of data from Vertex's ongoing and
planned clinical trials, including OPTIMIZE, CONCISE, ZENITH, the Phase
3b HCV-HIV Co-infection trial, and clinical trials involving ALS-2200,
ALS-2158, KALYDECO, VX-809, VX-661, VX-509, VX-765 and VX-787; (iv) the
potential for future regulatory submissions, including the timing of the
potential supplemental NDA for twice-daily dosing of INCIVEK; (v) the
expectations regarding data that will be presented at the Liver Meeting
and NACFC; (vi) Vertex's commitment to reinvesting in its broad pipeline
and to the creation of significant earnings; and (vii) information
provided in the paragraph following the statement "This section contains
forward-looking guidance about the financial outlook for Vertex
Pharmaceuticals." While Vertex believes the forward-looking statements
contained in this press release are accurate, there are a number of
factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially
from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Those risks and
uncertainties include, among other things, that the outcomes for each of
Vertex's ongoing and planned clinical trials may not be favorable, that
regulatory authorities may require supplemental clinical trials in order
to support the approval of VX-770, that the company may not be able to
successfully develop VX-770, VX-222, ALS-2200, ALS-2158, VX-809, VX-661,
VX-765, VX-509 or VX-787, that the company's expectations regarding its
2011 operating expenses may be incorrect and other risks listed under
Risk Factors in Vertex's annual report and quarterly reports filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and available through the
company's website at www.vrtx.com.
Vertex disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in
this press release as new information becomes available.

Conference Call Information

Vertex will host a conference call and webcast today, October 27, 2011
at 5:00 p.m. ET to review financial results and recent developments. The
conference call will be webcast live and a link to the webcast may be
accessed from the ‘Events & Presentations' page of Vertex's website at www.vrtx.com.

To listen to the live call on the telephone, dial 1-877-250-8889 (United
States and Canada) or 1-720-545-0001 (International). To ensure a timely
connection, it is recommended that users register at least 15 minutes
prior to the scheduled webcast.

The conference ID number for the live call and replay is 12341483.

The call will be available for replay via telephone commencing October
27, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. ET running through 5:00 p.m. ET on November 3,
2011. The replay phone number for the United States and Canada is
1-855-859-2056. The international replay number is 1-404-537-3406.

Following the live webcast, an archived version will be available on
Vertex's website until 5:00 p.m. ET on November 10, 2011. Vertex is also
providing a podcast MP3 file available for download on the Vertex
website at www.vrtx.com.